Digestive System

abdominopelvic quadrants

identify the organs in each quadrant

abdominopelvic regions

identify the organs in each region

Digestive System

• Composed of two groups of organs

  • Gastrointestinal tract (alimentary canal)

    • A continuous tube from the mouth to the anus

      • 5-7 meters (16.5-23 ft) in length

  • Accessory digestive organs

    • Teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder and pancreas

    • Only the teeth and tongue comes in direct contact with food

Functions of the GI Tract

• Ingestion: taking foods and liquids into the mouth → eating

• Secretion: 7L off water, acid, buffers and enzymes are made and enter the lumen of the GI tract

• Mixing and propulsion:

  • contraction and relaxion of the smooth muscle mixes the food with the GI secretions

  • this combination is then pushed toward the anus → motility

Digestion

• Mechanical and chemical breakdown of ingested food into useable molecules

  • Mechanical: teeth cut and grind, stomach and small intestinal muscles churn the food to mix it with secretions